Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Epilogue

First of all, thanks to all the regular readers of The Edge. Your kind words and encouragement over the span of Fiddler's Edge has made the work worthwhile.

As I wrote last October, in Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics, I began writing about nullsec as a courtesy to some friends in Providence who were having trouble filtering forum spam in order to get timely news and analysis viz ongoing hostilities. Since then, a lot of options have emerged that fill that need, including Hallan Turrek's Eve News Now, the newly revived Eve-Tribune, a wealth of Eve Online podcasts, thoughtful bloggers like the sage Kirith Kodachi and, of course, Eve News 24.

In attempting to carve out a place for Fiddler's Edge in the Eve Blogosphere, I've focused on in-depth content delivered at least twice a week, which takes a good bit of time and research (not to mention a lot of hand-wringing) to write. The readers of Fiddler's Edge have rewarded that time and effort by bumping this site to over 6,000 page hits per month. Thanks to all - you're the best - and the reason my work days usually start at 5:00 AM .

Having said all that, I've a number of other writing projects that have been on the back-burners while Fiddler's Edge was in flight (more on those in a moment). I've been thinking this last month or so that it might be time to take The Edge off the stove and put other efforts on high boil. Frankly, I was a bit torn about it.

As most of you know, his Krazyness is the patron saint of Eve bloggers. One of his means of promoting the Eve blogosphere is The Eve Blog Pack, where he provides linkage to the blogs he considers the best of the best. He recently posted that he was revising the list and that Fiddler's Edge was one of the blogs under consideration for inclusion in the pack.

I decided that would be the test. If Fiddler's Edge had improved enough to make Krazy's blog pack I would continue the work. If it fell short, it would be time to move on. Krazy announced his new blog pack yesterday and, as most of you know, Fiddler's Edge remains unworthy. The arbiter has spoken.

The good news is that Fiddler's Edge is going to expand its horizons. A new web site with a broader focus on things Science Fiction/Fantasy is in the works. I've asked Rixx Javix to do the graphics and am working on a content and web-page outline. Expect that it will have a special page dedicated to Eve Online, with links to Eve blogs, podcasts and general cartoon spaceship content. I may even hold forth now and again on critical events in New Eden.

I know many of you are accomplished writers in your own rights, and if some of you are interested in providing content please feel free to contact me at my mordfiddle gmail account.

À la Recherche Du Temps Perdu: An inside joke directed at fans of Jenny, who will recall her last run-in with a non-Proust-reading United Express delivery man. One of my back burnered projects is the first in what I hope will be a series of short stories featuring Jenny post Fiddler's Edge. She's wanted a larger stage for some time. Now she'll have her shot.

Fiat Lux: Let there be light. Always. Read between the lines. Ask inconvenient questions. Light candles before you curse the darkness. Go forth and illuminate.

Don't be dissing on the Krazy. Despite his unwholesome attachment to the Habs he does a lot of good out there and I've a lot of respect for him.

His Eve Blog Pack covers a broad spectrum of styles and content. By definition, not all of them are going to appeal to every reader. I trust that, despite its being a bit of a slog, he would have found a reason to include Fiddler's Edge if it was up to snuff.

Finally, bear in mind that there were a number of factors that drove my decision. The Blog Pack was only one of them.

Mord, with all due respect to _you_, if Kinux didn't find Fiddler's to be worthy, then INMONSHO the fault lies in _his_ stars and not yours, talk of "broad spectrums" notwithstanding. I read his work regularly at one point but do so no longer, whereas I _have_ been following Fiddler's ... and there were valid reasons for that.

But I digress. The only real reason that matters to me is that _you_ are interested in doing something else, instead of Fiddler's. And that being so, good luck.

Just know your view was valued, there was an IS a place for it regardless what a Kinux may or may not say, and Fiddler's _will_ be missed.

I mention some of it above, in particular the SF site and Jenny's story. A few other items:

If you go to http://www.scribd.com/doc/96279/Ray-Gun-Revival-magazine-Issue-09#outer_page_13 you'll find a bit of flash fiction I once wrote for "Ray Gun Revival". I'm in the process of extending that very-short story into a longer piece that I'll shop around to the SF short story market.

I've a few other short stories in the mill as well as a novel-length piece that will get more attention starting in mid-April.

I'll be writing some reviews - books and movies primarily.

Always with the writing ;)

Assuming the web-site gets off the ground in a reasonably timely manner, I'll be hitting a few cons to network and publicize. Likely Dragoncon and maybe a few local to DC.

I'll have to go with the flow on this one. When I didn't see your blog in the updated Pack, and then your announcement shortly thereafter, I had assumed you had talked to CK about plans to retire the Edge beforehand with him. I normally agree with his choices of who to put in the Pack (admittedly slightly biased in that matter), but I'll have to respectfully disagree with CK on this one. You deserved to be in the Pack, in my humble opinion, and I'm certainly sorry to see you go. But regardless, I look forward to seeing what you have next in line. o7

This happens every time I take a few days off. I'm going to have to stop taking breaks I suppose. Of course this is all smoke and mirrors really since you are not leaving us but moving on to bigger and better things, so while Fiddler's Edge being gone makes me sad (ahhh) the other news makes me happy (skip skip), so in the end I feel muddled but slightly hopeful.

Mord, nothing that's currently out there fills the void Fiddler's Edge will leave in it's wake. Yours has become my #1 source for worthwhile, intelligent analysis and the big picture. I crave no other New Eden read like your blog, and I truly believe Eve Online is diminished with its departure.

You've got to do what's best for you, but I, for one, am greatly relieved to hear that some Fiddleresque posts will be included in the repertoire. Thanks for everything, and I'll keep an eye out for your new stuff.

I have to post to join the chorus here. I genuinely looked forward to seeing a new entry when opening Google Reader. It was intelligent, well written and comprehensive in its analysis. Easily in the top 2 - 3 of blogs I have read anywhere.

CK has erred in this specific instance, there is nothing like this out there.

Mord, I'm genuinely baffled as to how I made the blog pack while you didn't. Your writing is better, more regular and has a great focus which mine lacks. I'll be sad to see fewer entries in my Google reader, but I'll look forward to your other projects. On the bright side, it will likely mean I'll be on time to more meetings as I won't be reading your in-depth analysis when I should be walking down the hall.

CK might have done the EVE community a lot of good, but that doesn't immunize him to criticism when he makes a bad call. George Lucas has my respect for a lot of reasons, but that doesn't mean I'm going to pretend like the prequel trilogy didn't suck.

It's important that you do what's right for you, but there's no sense in breaking through your ambivalence with someone else's flawed judgment call, regardless of how much other cause there may be to respect that person.

You have my absolute support for whatever you decide to do going forward -- either way, something is lost and something is gained -- but I really hope that, at the end of the day, the tie-breaking reason is your own.

I am surprised that there were many other blogs that could Rival fidler's insight and depth of commentary. Personally, I am quite sad you made this decision. This is the second site I check every day, after the Economist's blogs. I at least will keep refreshing the site every few weeks hoping you change your mind.

Best of luck with your new projects and god speed the day you change your mind.

I found this blog by a tweet from CK which led me to his latest blog and then to here (see Feminator's link above). After reading through some random posts and the comments above, I have to agree, PLEASE don't stop writing The Fiddler's Edge!

Even though I've been more or less a carebear in my nearly two years in EVE, I do have ambitions that will eventually lead me to lowsec (already begun) and then to nulsec. Admittedly, I know very little about nulsec, but in the last hour of reading here, I've more than quadrupled my understanding of it through your concise, well-written blog. I would dearly luv to continue learning more from The Fiddler's Edge.

KC wants to correct his oversight and obvious mistake. I hope you reconsider closing this down.

I must agree with Bill...I've had to take a brief hiatus from EVE, however, Fiddler's Edge has remained in my near-daily reading list..Please reconsider..C.K. isn't perfect and has a ton on his plate.. He obviously made a mistake (to which he admits) and is willing to do the right thing and correct said mistake..So, whadaya say? Continue?I'll re-sub if you do...okay, probably not in the immediate future, but I WILL continue reading every post you write..... Deal?

Seriously though, if your decision to move on is final, we (the EVE community - current subscribers, past subscribers, and future subscribers) will have lost a great source of information and entertainment...

I am fairly new to Eve and your blog has been indispensable in understanding some of the more interesting parts of the game. Please keep it up.

Out of the twenty or so Eve blogs that I follow, I always have to leave yours for last -- because I need to give it the most time to read it thoroughly and understand your thoughtful commentary.

I understand the need to work on other projects, but could you please consider just cutting back on the frequency of your posts to fiddler's edge? :) I would still enjoy whatever Eve thoughts you had to share.

This is probably one of the five best Eve blogs, and I read about 30 of them. I really hope you reconsider and decide to keep writing intelligent and insightful articles. Fiddler's Edge must live on!!!!11